Folding crate.



G. H. COMES.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4. m5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

yzo

GEORGE H. COIVIBS, 0F ITHACA, NEW-YORK.

FOLDING CRATE.

rendete.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding crates-andy the primary object of the invention is to construct a device of this character which shall embrace novel means whereby the crate will be strong and rigid when in its set-up position and whereby the'same ma)7 be com- .pactly folded for the purpose of storage or' return to its destination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be of a simple and economical construction, durable and efficient in its use. and one. which :nav be folded compactly and locked in such folded condition, so as to insure the same against breakage or loss of parts. when e stored or returned.

'With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in the construction. combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the followingl specification and fallf ing within the scope ofthe appendedclaims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of' a crate constructed in accordance with the present invention7 Fig. 2 is a similar View illustratingthe manner in which the side members or panels are arranged in settingnp a crate, Fig. 3 is a sec# tional view approximatelv on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view approximatelv on the line l-t of Fig. l, Fig. isa horizontal sectional 'View approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a. crate in its knocked down or 'folded condition, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the goose-neck or hook incinbers provided upon the panels of the crate. The. bottom l may be in the nature of a fiat board of either a square or rectangular formation, and the same is provided upon its edges, adjacent its corners. with outwardly extending eves 2. The eyes are preferably in the nature of bail members` d '-.vith plates .that a're let in the edges of the bottom and secured thereto in any desired or preferred manner.y and the eyes are disposed horizontally7 with. relation to the bottoni. The panels comprising the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 4, 1915.

Patented Nov. 28. 12116. Serial No. 65,113.

sides and ends are indicated b v the numerals P3 and l respectively. These panels are of a lengt-h to rest snugly upon the upper face ofthe bottom l and to be arranged in a line with the edgesl of the bottom. and the ends of the sidepanels arc contacted b v the inner faces of the end panels.I so that the opposite edges of the said edge panels will be arranged flush with the outer faces of the side panels. Secured to each of the panels. adjacent the oppositeedges thereof are plates provided with outwardlv extending depending members G formed with hookshaped ends 7, and the hooks of the members are adapted to engage with the respective eyes 2 of the bottom. The members (3 are of a substantiallv gooseneck formation. and b v reference to Fig. 2 it will Abe noted that the panels are arranged at an angle with relation to the bottom to permit of the hooks Tentering'the e'ves 2 and further that when the panels are arranged onthe bottom l and are Idisposed vertically thereof. the `hooked ends of the. members will frictionallv engage with the eyes 2 to hohl the lower edges of the panels in Contact with the. bottom so as to prevent the escape of thc contents of the crate from between the panels and bottom.

The side panels adjacent their upper corners are provided with. longitudinallv extending fiat. prefcrabliv metallic tongues or tenons H which are provided each with an openingfl. and these tenons S are adapted to be received yin niortiseslll) provided in the end panels Jr. adjacent the. upper cornersI thereof. The panels l adjacent each of their corners are. provided with a verticall) disposed aperture 1l which passes through the inortise l() and` which is adapted to register with the opening i) in 'cach of the tenons S, and inserted within each of the said apertures is a removable pin 12 which serves as locking means for securing the panels and for sustaining the salue in proper upriglit position with relation to the base l.

Hingedlv secured to one of the end panels l. as at 'l-3, is the top or lid nxen'ibcr 14. The lid is of a size and shape corresponding with the bottoni 'l and when swung over the upper edges of the side and end panels will contact or coverthe removable pins 12150 effectively hold the same in their locking position. The cover may be provided with a suitable hasp arranged upon its edge opposite its hinges and the said hasp may engage with a suitable staple 16 in one of the end panels 1, so that a. suitable lock may be inserted in the staple to effectively protect the crate and secure'thc lid in closed position. Of course, other securing means may `be' employed if desired.

The panels 3 and 4, adjacent their corner edges are provided with slots 17 which, when the panels are removed from the-bottom and are arranged face to face upon the bottom, are adapted to aline, so that one of the pair of straps 20 after passing through said similar slots 21 in the lid may be inserted through the registering slots 17 in the panels and through two ofV the oppositely disposed pairs of eyes 2 of the bottom, and through a second pair ot' slots 22 in the lid 14 to engage with suitable buckles 23 provided upon the ends of the straps. The straps 20 are secured to the inner face of the lid 14 in any desired manner, such for instance, as through the medium of head members 24.

Y While it has been sta-ted that the pins 12 are in the nature of removable elements, the same may be so constructed as to be r- 4mitted only a limited amount of sli ing movement in the aperture 11 so that the same cannot be entirely Withdrawn from the aperture, but as these pins may be also in the nature of ordinary nails, which may be easily obtained, the said pins may be entirely discarded if 'desired when the crate is in it's knocked down condition.

From the above description` taken in connection with the accompanyingl drawings, the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such invention appertains without further description.

Having thus described the invention.l what I claim is:

1. A crate, including a base having its edges provided wit-h eyes, side and end panels resting on the base and havngtheir edges contacting, members having hook- .shaped ends rigidly secured to the outer ing the tenons in the mortises, and a hinged lid for the crate.

2. A knoclodown crate including a fiat bottom having its edges provided with eyes, side and end panels resting on the bottom at the edges thereof and the opposite edges of the side panels contacting with the inner faces of the end panels at the opposite edges of the said end panels, members ot' substantially goose-neck formation rigidly secured to the panels and engaging in the eyes of the bottom, tenon members projecting from the opposite edges of the side panels and entering mortises ,in the end panels, locking pins passing through apertures in the end panels and through openings in the tenons, a hinged lid -upon one of the panels, and means for locking the lid to the crate.

3. In a knock-down crate, a flat bottom having its edges provided with eyes, side and end panels resting upon the bottom at the edges thereof. rigid hook members upon the panels engaging with the eyes, certain of the panels having projecting tenons entering mortises in the contacting panels, slidable locking means for the tenons, the panels adjacent their corners having slots, a lid hingedly secured to one of the panels, and strap members secured to the lid and adaptedl to be passed through the slots and through certain of the eyes of the bottom when the device is in its knocked-down position and the panels are arranged one upon the other wer the base. substantially as file-- scribed.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H; COMES. iVitnesses JENNIE MCAULUfrn, MILnm-:o H. SMiTn. 

